SAT Prep Lesson #3 SAT vs. ACT

A Basic Comparison of the Two Tests Test Sections ACT SAT English (ACT) Writing and Language (SAT) 45 minutes 75 questions 35 minutes 44 questions Math 60 minutes 60 questions 80 minutes 58 questions Reading 40 questions 65 minutes 52 questions Science N/A Essay (optional) 40 minutes 1 essay 50 minutes

How is the ACT Scored? The ACT gives a composite score from 1-36. Composite score means we take an average of the scores from each section. Let’s say you make 25 on English, 32 on Math, 28 on Reading, and 24 on Science. You’re overall composite score would be a 28. Take the average and round the result if it is not a whole number. (25+32+28+25)/4 = 27.5 …..28

How is the SAT scored? The SAT is scored on a range between 400 and 1600. This is based on adding your Reading/Writing score from 200-800 and Math score from 200-800 together. *Note that even though there are three main multiple choice sections to the SAT—Reading, Writing, and Math—Reading and Writing are combined into one score out of 800.

How about the Essay scored? ACT Essay: Two different graders score an essay from 1 to 6 on four different writing domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. The raw score of points added up from the graders is converted to a scaled score from 1 to 36. SAT Essay: Two graders score students from 1 to 4 in three different categories: Reading, Analysis, and Writing. These scores are added together but remain separate in categories, so students will receive three scores from 2 to 8 for each category.

If the essay is optional, should I do it? Well, that depends on if the colleges you will apply to require the essay. It is considered the least important part of the tests and some colleges do not even require it, but… If you are not 100% sure of all the colleges you will apply to, you should do the essay.

But how are the essays different? Check out this little video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWY_gOkl3LY

Bottom line on the essay… If you are good at analyzing writing and pulling and embedding text evidence, the SAT is for you. The SAT does not want your opinions. It asks you to analyze the source and its author’s intentions. If you are good at forming logical arguments and persuasive writing, the ACT is a good match for you skills. The ACT wants an opinion and wants it backed up logically. Regardless, the essay is NOT the most important part of the test and will not affect your main score.

ACT English vs. SAT Writing and Language Reading Level: All of the passages on the ACT English section are at a relatively easy reading level (say, about 9th grade). The passages on the SAT Writing & Language section can vary in difficulty, however, from early high school to early college. Informational Graphic Questions: On the ACT, all of the questions are about the text. On the SAT, you’ll see a couple questions on tables and graphs connected to the text.

How do the Math sections compare? Both the SAT and ACT have math questions through Algebra II and some trigonometry, though the ACT tends to have a few more of the higher level math questions than the SAT. The SAT has some grid-in questions and has a section on which you cannot use a calculator, whereas the ACT has only multiple choice and you may use a calculator on all. Only the SAT gives you the formulas you will need. For the ACT, you have to have all formulas memorized.

How do the reading sections compare? Number of passages: There are four long passages (700-900ish words) to read on the ACT and five longish passages (500 to 750 words) on the SAT. Or rather, there are 4 discrete reading sections on the ACT and 5 on the SAT. Both tests include one set of paired passages for you to compare, but count these as a single passage. Passage complexity: The reading level of the passages on the ACT is pretty standard across the board (about a 10th to 11th grade level). On the SAT, you’ll find a range from 9th grade to early college.

What’s the deal with the ACT Science section? You don’t need to be a scientist, though the more familiar you are with science terminology the faster you’ll be able to process the questions. You’ll see a handful of questions that do require you to bring in outside knowledge, but most of the questions have to do with your ability to read tables and graphs, make assumptions about scientific situations, or evaluate scientific hypotheses.  If you want to check out the types of graphs and tables you’ll face: https://magoosh.com/hs/act/act-study-tips/2016/act-science-graphs-and-tables/

Which test is harder for time management? Overall, the ACT is considered more difficult to finish than the SAT. More students have trouble finishing it. For most sections, you have less time per question—though with the essay, since you don’t have to read a passage, it basically comes out even. So…this means that you really need to pay attention to the time warnings, so you can make sure that you fill in a bubble for every question.

Where can I practice for the ACT? There is a link to the ACT company’s site. There is a lot of things you can use if you pay for them, but if you scroll down, there is a free study guide you can download and there are sample questions from each multiple choice section of the test. Check it out: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html

Learn the directions BEFORE you take the test! When you check out the sample questions, you will also see the directions. Learn the directions. You don’t want to waste time reading and understanding the directions when you take the test. You know your time is limited, so you want to save every minute you can. Just for an example, let’s look at the English directions: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/english-practice-test-questions.html?page=0&chapter=0